Margaret was seething by the time they got back to the hotel. Henry tried to placate her, he had rather taken to the children, even if he had only really spoken to the older boy, William. Psyche was very much like Phryne and though he loved his elder daughter she had always confused him; so bright, so independent – from day one – headstrong, determined. Perhaps he hadn't been a good father, maybe he could be a better grandfather. Janey was more than she would have been had she not been taken. Margaret would have sent her to finishing school like she wanted Phryne to go to, she would have arranged her marriage to some worthy, wealthy aristocrat but would she have been happy? This chap she did marry seemed to have made her happy even though he had got himself into strife and been murdered, he had loved her, had loved the children – perhaps she had had a better life. Lack of money had not made her unhappy.

"William should be enrolled at Eton, or Harrow," she paced the sitting room of their suite. "The other boys too, Psyche needs a governess …"

"She's two, Margaret, well maybe nearly three," he gasped.

"A nanny, then, instil some discipline …"

"They are Janey's children, you didn't want your parents interfering in how we brought up the girls, now you plan to do just that. Love, can't we just enjoy having Janey back and see the children?"

"There's something wrong with Robert …"

"He's just quiet," he shrugged, "Phryne …"

"What would she know!" she glared at him, "she doesn't even like children …"

"She seems to get on well with them," he sat down, "Psyche seems quite happy in her company and her in Psyche's."

"She needs that rebellious streak knocking out of her," she huffed.

"Now hang on a minute," Henry shifted in his seat, "I am not the best person to advise on child rearing …"

"Precisely …"

"… but the way we treated Phryne only served to make her stronger, braver and a bloody sight smarter than most."

"Don't swear, Henry. And what do you mean, we?"

"You didn't stop me, or object when I locked her in the cupboard or when I hit her. Face it, Margaret, you are just as much to blame as me. They have a nice house, enough money because of Phryne, and Janey has a pleasant little job to keep her occupied."

"Working in a shop!"

"Yes, in a shop, a book shop; and yes, she could have left as soon as she came into money, but that would have been ill-mannered, and that isn't Janey, never was. Phryne works …"

"It's a hobby …"

"No, it's a profession, she gets paid for the private work she does …"

Margaret just tossed her head.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So, it didn't go too well, then?" Jack put his arm round Phryne and kissed the top of her head.

"Psyche is too much like me," she sighed.

"Not a bad thing, in my humble opinion."

"So, I have put the idea of a trip to Ballarat to Janey and she thinks it would be lovely. Mr and Mrs Hammond will come with her, and I think we'll take Mr B as well."

"Right, I'll tell Elizabeth to expect us then, end of the week, give me time to arrange a stand in for a week." He started to get off the chaise, "a week should be enough to get the point across, shouldn't it? Of course, I could leave you there and come back, Ballarat isn't too far."

"I'll let Aunt P know, and why."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elizabeth was delighted to hear her brother and Phryne were to join them for term break. She looked forward to meeting Janey and the children and set about organising the rooms.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Prudence Stanley was, as always, delighted to see Phryne, but surprised at the speed in which she entered the house and threw herself down on the couch in the parlour.

"Phryne?"

"It's too much, Aunt P …"

"What is, dear girl?"

"Mother and father, well mother really. They came to tea, at Janey's house, to meet the children …"

"Ah yes, given what she said at dinner, and how she expects Janey to change her entire life just because she is now the Honourable Mrs Sinclair … what happened?" Prudence sighed and sat in a chair.

"Well, Psyche had to be changed because she had been in the garden digging in the carrot patch, Robert hid behind Janey …"

"Well, he's shy."

"Hm … Arthur tried to engage mother in reading one of his picture books, and Psyche sat on my knee and took a biscuit – like she does."

"So, what's wrong with that? William?"

"Ah, he seemed to get along with father alright, he listened while he was told about being a Baron and he seemed to ask intelligent questions, at least father was happy."

So?"

"Mother didn't like that Psyche took the biscuit, she shouted at her and the biscuit fell on the rug, which earned the poor child another reprimand – she doesn't think Janey is bringing them up as the children of nobility should be brought up. Janey told her she would do any scolding should it be necessary, and that the children would continue to be allowed to play in the garden and get covered in mud, to cycle with Jack and to bake with Mrs Hammond and that they would remember where they came from and not look down their noses at those less fortunate. For Janey it was quite a speech. They left after that. Father said he hoped he would see them again, soon, and Janey doesn't mind if he does but I don't think she particularly wants mother to visit – something of a turnaround – she thought she wouldn't want father, but he seems to be the more sensible of the two."

"Oh dear," her aunt sighed, "What does your mother think she will gain from this? I thought she would be happy that Janey has been found and the children are delightful."

"I don't think she likes that Psyche is rather like me, and she blames me for everything, I can't do anything right."

Prudence could see that this hurt her niece, especially after all she had done to keep her parents together, flying Henry back to England had been reckless, dangerous and she had found herself in even more 'situations' before Jack caught up with her. All things considered, living in sin with the Inspector was the least of her follies.

"What do you plan to do? I know you've got some idea of how to keep out of the way of your parents?"

"We are going to stay with Jack's sister, we've been trying to find a way, a gap in cases, so now we have decided we can take the time, Jack can take some leave and Elizabeth has room for all of us, well not our parents …" she shrugged, "do you think we are running away? Janey thought it might look that way."

"It does, but you're busy people, having the time to visit family isn't easy in your line of work, so why not. Maybe your mother will have calmed down and see things the way they should be when you get back." Prudence thought she would try and talk to her sister about her behaviour.

"I hope so," Phryne sighed. "I thought they'd be happy, having Janey back …"

"I expect it's because William is the heir to the title and she thinks he should be properly educated …"

"You mean sent to an English boarding school?"

"Well, she was quick enough to send you to one," Prudence reminded her.

"Janey's worried she'll enrol Psyche in a Finishing School."

"She'll try …"

"Lord help us," Phryne rolled her eyes.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

William and Robert were collected from school by Mr Hammond as usual.

"Good day, boys?" he pulled away from the gate.

"Yes, thank you," William smiled, "when are we going to Ballarat?"

"I believe we are setting off tomorrow morning, Master William, sometime after breakfast. It isn't too far, and we shall be there by lunchtime."

"Will grandfather be coming?" William wondered – he quite liked the Baron.

"I don't believe so," Mr Hammond shook his head, making note that he would inform the mistress of the young master's question and that he had not asked about his grandmother. The Baroness had called that afternoon and asked if William could meet them for tea at the Windsor and hear more about being heir to a title. Janey had denied the request telling her mother that she didn't like the routine being upset during the school week. Margaret had tossed her head and stormed off down the path to a waiting cab.

"Oh, well I suppose we will see him again, when we get back."

"Very possibly."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I see," Janey mused when Mr Hammond reported the conversation in the car.

"I thought you should know, madam, as the Baroness called this afternoon."

"Yes, quite. I don't think I mind him seeing father, I worry what my mother is thinking of. Anyway, it doesn't matter, we are away for a week from tomorrow."

Mr Hammond gave his little bow and left to see to the setting of the table for dinner. As there were no guests, dinner would be at a time suitable for the younger members of the family.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Phryne skipped down the stairs, packing all done. Jack was sitting having breakfast and reading the paper, casually dressed, even his hair had been let loose from its customary pomade.

Mr Butler poured her a cup of strong coffee and took the toast rack out to replenish it. It would seem the Inspector had an appetite this morning.

"Anything of interest?" she pulled the paper down from in front of his face.

"Weather looks good," he hummed, "that's about it. No murders, no nefarious goings on overnight – all quiet in Melbourne." He put the paper down and lifted his cup of tea.

"Nice," she sipped her coffee, Jack wasn't sure if she meant the lack of news or the coffee. "Well, as long as the parents don't show up …"

"Even if they do, love," he squeezed her hand, "they can't stop us going away for a few days, nor taking Janey and the children. We deserve a break, and it is the school break so the children can have the chance to meet more family."

"I just hope it isn't too much for Robert," she put down her cup and turned to him. "You know he doesn't like too much change, or new things."

"I've spoken to Elizabeth about him, and she thought Sam would be best to keep an eye on him. Lucy and Jacky will keep everyone entertained – you know they will." He kissed her forehead, "now, are you going to eat something?"

She took a piece of freshly made toast and set about eating breakfast.

"Right, I'm going to finish dressing," he stood up, "is there anything else you need to pack?"

She shook her head, he would bring the cases down and Mr Butler would load the Hispano with those and baskets of snacks for the journey and supplies for the house.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The journey went more smoothly than Phryne had thought it would. They had set off when Janey and her household joined them and driven at a respectable speed between the few towns on the route Phryne had chosen. William and Robert were allowed to travel with Mr Butler in the back of her car while Janey had the two youngest children – Psyche wasn't best pleased with this arrangement but Phryne's car was open-topped and Janey was concerned her daughter's adventurous spirit would have her do something dangerous, like try to get out to look more closely at something while the car was moving. She thought she ought to learn to drive at some point, Phryne and Jack had both offered to teach her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elizabeth and David's house was enormous to the children's eyes. There was a long veranda that sat under a balcony, and it looked out over vast gardens. Janey wondered how many times they would lose a child in the trees and shrubs.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As Elizabeth and David were greeting their guests, making introductions and exchanging hugs, Margaret had decided to call on Janey, again.

There was no answer to her knock, there was no one in the rooms as she peered through the windows and no one appeared to be in the kitchen. It was strange that there was absolutely no one at the house. If Janey was out then the Hammonds would be looking after Arthur and Psyche – surely? She told the waiting cab to take her to the bookshop her daughter worked in.

"Madam?" Mr Simons smiled his greeting, "and what can I do for you this fine day?"

"You can tell my daughter I wish to speak to her," Margaret straightened her back and glared at the elderly man.

"Your daughter?" he frowned.

"The Honourable Mrs Sinclair," she huffed, he should have known who she meant, in her mind.

"Ah, Miss Janey, well, Baroness?" he raised his eyebrows and waited for her to agree that was she, "Baroness, Miss Janey is not here today. She has taken the children away for a short holiday."

"And where would she take four small children?"

Mr Simons wondered if the local drama group were considering staging Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' because here was Lady Bracknell personified.

"That, I'm afraid I can't tell you. All she said was they were going to stay with family."

"Family!? The only family she has is her sister and she lives in Melbourne."

"Ah yes," he smiled again, "Miss Phryne Fisher."

Margaret growled and stormed out of the shop, demanding the driver to take her to 221B The Esplanade.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dot set her little boy in his pram while she set to work putting away the mending she had been doing for Miss Fisher and checking other garments for repairs or cleaning. Miss Fisher had suggested she do this while she was away and perhaps check Jane's room over. Jane insisted on cleaning it herself rather than have Mr Butler do it but;

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind you giving it the once over, Dot, dear," Phryne had smiled, "then we shall perhaps look at having you back on the team. I have missed you, darling."

"Oh miss, do you think so?" Dot had gasped, "you won't mind Theo being here?"

"Oh, I dare say he will be fine in his pram?" Phryne shrugged.

Theobald John Collins was such an easy baby and the little bungalow the family lived in didn't take up enough of her time to not consider going back to work for Miss Fisher. So, here she was, on her own in the house, noting that Mr Butler had kept everything ship-shape but they were short of the mustard pickle the Inspector liked so she would make some more and perhaps, as she had seen some lovely fruit in the market, she could fill up the jars of marmalade and jam.

The knock on the door made her jump. If Miss Fisher was away there shouldn't be any visitors.

"I wish to speak to my daughter," the woman glared down at Dot.

"I'm sorry, the household are away for a short holiday, may I say who has called?" Dot kept her hand on the door knob.

"I am Miss Fisher's mother, who are you?"

"Oh, Baroness, my apologies," Dot smiled sweetly, "Mrs Collins, Miss Fisher's companion, but as I said Miss Fisher is away."

"And you are here?"

"I have some jobs to do for Miss Fisher," she tipped her head.

"But you are unsupervised."

"Baroness, pardon me for being blunt, but I do not require supervising in my tasks, now, is there a message?" Dot thought she was likely being rude, but the Baroness implied she could not be trusted.

"Where is she?"

"That is confidential information, Lady Fisher; Miss Fisher has asked me not to say unless it is a matter of life or death – is it?"

"Where is Phryne?!"

"Not here." Dot stood her ground.

"You will tell me …"

"Or what? You will have me sacked? I'm sorry but Miss Fisher is more likely to sack me if I do tell you, so if there is no message I have to get back to work. Good day to you, Baroness." Dot closed the door, dusted off her hands and thought she might ring Miss Fisher that evening and let her know her mother was looking for her. She almost felt sorry for the Baron.

Margaret stood looking at the door then stormed down the path with the intention of finding Phryne whatever it took. City South Police Station was her next port of call.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Constable!" she slapped the counter making Hugh jump out of his skin.

"Madam, can I help you?" he smiled gently, mature ladies were his speciality.

"I need to find my daughters, Miss Phryne Fisher and Mrs Janey Sinclair!"

"Oh, well, when did you last see them?" He lifted his pen and prepared to take notes. "and where?"

"At my daughter's house," she supplied Janey's address, "on Saturday."

"Ah, hm," he wrote down the information, "and they were well?"

"They were fine, well the baby was naughty and … they were well," she suddenly realised she was about the complain about the way Janey was raising the children, specifically the next Baron Fisher of Richmond-on-Thames.

"I see, and what do you suspect?" he asked mildly.

"I don't suspect anything, you foolish boy," she glowered, "I want to know where they are, that's all."

"Well, unless you fear for their lives, madam, I can't help you. Perhaps they've gone on holiday."

"Pah!" she snorted, "useless!"

Hugh heaved a sigh of relief as the door was slammed shut. Miss Fisher and Inspector Robinson had impressed upon him that he was not to divulge their whereabouts unless City Hall had been destroyed by a large bomb, and even then he was to think long and hard. They had given him the telephone number just in case – but he wasn't going to use it – unless the city fell! And even then he would have to think long and hard about it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Thank you for calling, Dot," Phryne listened to what she had to say, and also how Hugh had handled her mother at the station. "Thank Hugh for me, for not divulging our whereabouts."

"Given he doesn't actually know where you are, Miss, neither do I – except somewhere in Ballarat – we actually can't tell her." Dot laughed. "We can ring you but that's all. How's Robert coping?"

"So far, so good," Phryne admitted, "Sam is looking after him and suggesting they find places to sit and read in the garden. It's a lovely house, Dot, and the gardens are almost as big as Aunt P's … Janey thinks we are more likely to lose Psyche in the undergrowth than the boys to climbing trees. Jack says she'll turn up when she's hungry."

"Well, you have a lovely holiday, Miss," Dot was relieved they had done the right things, "and we shall see you when you return."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For someone who usually spent her life chasing criminals, unravelling other people's problems and trying to solve the world's ills, the peace at Jack's family's house seemed to suit Phryne. She was happy to read, listen to the gramophone – especially when she discovered Elizabeth's comprehensive stock of jazz records – or walking in the gardens with Jack. The children were free to run around the house and gardens, play in the playroom, climb trees and Jack was happy to help his brother in law construct a tree house for the children. Phryne watched and admired, not for the first time, his muscular arms and broad chest as he stripped down to his singlet to saw planks of wood and hammer nails.

Elizabeth appeared at her side, "not often you see our Jack so relaxed," she handed her a glass of lemonade.

"Only when he's sleeping," Phryne murmured. "Even then I think he's working out the latest case in his dreams, but you're right, not like this."

"I'm glad he found you Phryne," she hummed, "you're good for him, he's more Jack than he used to be."

"Oh, well, I think he's good for me."

"You balance each other out?"

"Hopefully."

"You do." Elizabeth just smiled.

"Thank you," Phryne turned to her, "for accepting how Jack and I live, for letting me bring my family here and turning your household upside down …"

"I'm glad you came, we don't see enough of either of you and we are so glad to meet Janey and her children. It must have been a tremendous relief to find out she had been safe all these years."

"You can't imagine, Elizabeth, after Murdoch Foyle led us such a dance I didn't know whether to be relieved or even more afraid of what had become of her. And now, because her husband was murdered, I find her, alive, well and with a family of her own."

"Yet your mother … Jack intimated she wasn't too pleased about you, and how Janey is bringing up the children?"

"Mother isn't too happy that Janey will continue to work at the bookshop, that Psyche is too much like me …"

"… independent?"

Phryne nodded, "she seems to forget where we came from, but Janey won't let the children forget that, they won't forget Fitzroy any more than we forget Collingwood. We both know that William will one day be the Baron, but that doesn't mean he has to be educated in England at Eton or Harrow …" she sighed, "I don't understand. Aunt Prudence was over the moon when I told her and she helped us to find a suitable school for the boys – just like she got Jane into Warleigh – Janey has been brought up to look after herself, to be strong and independent, not to sit on boards or have tea parties and sit doing fine embroidery, be waited on hand and foot. Mother seems to blame me for it all, as if I had anything to do with it."

"What was Janey like as a child?"

"My little shadow, the good girl, not timid, but not as reckless as me. She was always happy, that was what I missed most, her laugh – bathtub pirate games were never the same without her. When she wasn't with me, adventuring in the wilds of Collingwood, she did as she was told, kept her things neat, was on time for meals … everything I wasn't. I think mother assumed that she would be the pliant child again and do what mother expects an Honourable young lady should do and that isn't work in a bookshop and let her children dig in the garden and get covered in mud, or help bake biscuits in the kitchen or go our cycling with their aunt's live in lover – which she also doesn't approve of."

"That you aren't married?"

"And that the children are allowed to associate with us."

"I don't think they understand the difference between a married couple and an unmarried couple," Elizabeth set the tray down, "to them you are Aunty Phryne and Uncle Jack, you are kind, loving, and you treat them with respect. What does your father think?"

"I'm not sure. He seems a bit frustrated with her attitude. He seemed to get on alright with William when they came to tea, but … oh I don't know! I just think there is a chance he will make a better grandfather than he did a father. I did get a sense of pride in Janey, that she could look after herself. Aunt P thinks she'll want Psyche to go to a finishing school."

"Did she send you to one?"

Phryne shook her head. "No, didn't get the chance. I escaped to the trenches where I learnt a lot more useful things than how to get out of a carriage without showing too much ankle and take tea nicely."

"Can't imagine it would have gone too well, but I'd like to have been a fly on the wall as you swore in perfect French or Italian. Jack says you have a flair for languages."

"Seems he's told you a lot more about me than that. Yes, I can swear in many languages, I can also hold a decent conversation in some …"

"I don't doubt it," Elizabeth laughed.

Phryne felt accepted by Jack's family more than she was by her own parents and knowing this helped her believe she could handle anything her mother threw at her.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"It's completely unacceptable, Prudence!" Margaret paced around Mrs Stanley's parlour.

"What is?" Prudence tipped her head and waited for even more of the tirade her sister had started as soon as she had walked through the door.

"Going away when we are here to visit," she sat down with a huff making Henry wince as the couch dipped suddenly.

"They don't get the chance to visit Jack's family very often, this has been on the cards for some time. As soon as they closed this case they had arranged to go over for a week. As it happens, they were able to take Janey and the children as well."

"It's that man's family, not Phryne's or Janey's, no need to take Janey. Those children need some discipline …"

"Come on, Margaret, they were perfectly well behaved …"

"Psyche is wild …"

"She took a biscuit off Phryne's plate, that's not wild …" Henry interrupted.

"Indeed not," Prudence agreed, "she's only a baby …"

"She had been digging in the garden!"

"Oh for goodness sake, Margaret, why shouldn't she? Up to being found by Phryne and Jack they didn't have a garden; all this is new to them, they should explore …"

"That doesn't mean they have to dig in the dirt."

"You have turned into quite a snob, Margaret …"

"And you aren't?" Margaret snapped back at Prudence.

"Perhaps … once upon a time … but … if you took time to get to know Phryne again, maybe you would be a lot less judgmental."

"Of course I know her!" Margaret stood up and clenched her fists, "she's my daughter, I raised her …!"

"Phryne more or less raised herself, and you know it!" Prudence snapped back. You don't know her at all. She's brave and resourceful, she has built a family around her with Jane, and Dorothy, Albert and Cecil …"

"Communists! Communists! I ask you!"

"They have been through the same thing, they all served, and Jack!" Prudence stood her ground, "they have seen horrors we could never imagine!"

"She's right, love," Henry stood up and touched her elbow. She threw him off.

"What would you know?" she sneered.

"I don't, but Phryne does, and she understands Jack and Bert and Cec, she understands that Dorothy had to be encouraged to be the clever lass she is, she understands the changes Janey has to deal with. I know that I've put her through hell, and I don't blame her if she never wants to see me again, but if Janey will let me, I want to be a good grandfather to those four little ones of hers. So, stop trying to change them and just try to love them, not punish them for not being what you think they should be, because you will lose them."

Prudence could see that Henry was trying to keep the peace, and that he could now see that the way he treated Phryne made her the woman she knew and loved with all her heart. Perhaps she should have locked Guy in a cupboard or given him a thrashing or two.

"Well, I have my standards …"

"So do I," Prudence admitted.

"They aren't as high as mine, darling," Margaret looked down on her sister and sniffed.

"Maybe not, but they are attainable." Prudence stood aside as Margaret headed for the door, "perhaps we shall see each other next week, or when they get back from their holiday?" she tipped her head and raised her eyebrows daring her sister to argue.

Margaret just stuck her nose in the air and stalked out, followed by Henry.

"Sorry, old thing," he whispered.

"Not your fault, not this time, Henry," she sighed, and really, it wasn't.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

All too soon the week was over. Janey was relaxed, the children had made new friends and Phryne was ready to take on her mother. Jack hoped it wouldn't come to that, but he was more interested to see how Henry figured in the whole situation. The idea he had seen the error of his ways, or the impact it had had on Phryne and the impact living with Fredericks had on Janey intrigued him. Phryne had said that he had been a dreadful passenger on their flight back to England and that her parents had rowed when she got him back. He also noted that they hadn't appeared at her premature memorial service which he initially assumed meant they denied that she had died, that they hadn't wanted to believe it. He hadn't either, and when it had transpired she was alive, his emotions were on a rollercoaster before they settled after she had told him why she had married the Maharajah. Now they were on an even keel, he could cope with her recklessness, he had to, it was part of the woman he loved. So, how was she going to approach her parents when they returned to Melbourne?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They pulled up outside Wardlow having left Janey and her family at their house. Promises of meeting very soon were made, kisses and hugs exchanged and then it was just the two of them.

"Quiet night in?" he turned and smiled.

"I think so," she agreed, "Dot should be over to talk about returning to my side."

"And Theo?"

"Oh, I think I can cope, he'll probably sleep the days away … we'll take each day as it comes. Dot's been a bit bored; he's an easy baby, apparently, and the bungalow doesn't take much upkeep."

"Not after you and this," he waved his hand at the house.

"There you are!" Margaret stormed across the road, "how dare you go out of town when you have family visiting, I brought you up with better manners!"

"Mother!" Phryne gasped, "don't tell me you've been watching the house – for a week?!"

"Of course I have, you ungrateful child!"

"Perhaps we'd better go inside, Phryne," Jack touched her elbow, "don't want the whole esplanade to hear …"

Mr Butler took the car round to the garage to unload and prepare tea while Phryne and Jack, preceded by her mother, headed up to the front door.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In the parlour, Phryne invited her mother to sit down while she asked Mr B for some tea.

"Tea?! I've not come here for tea!" the Baroness snapped, "I want to know why you decided to take yourself off goodness knows where, with Janey and the children without us. You know you can't be trusted with your sister's welfare!"

"That …" Phryne bit her lip.

"That's not fair, Lady Fisher," Jack stepped in, "Phryne has only their welfare at heart. She has helped them settle in a better house, find a better school for the boys and reliable household staff. You came and decided you wanted Janey to be someone she is not, to be what you consider a proper lady should be. Janey is no longer the child you knew, she is a widow with four children who is capable of looking after them and would have been fine even if Phryne had never found her. She is stronger, more resilient than any of us could have imagined. But that's not enough for you, is it? You want her to be the pliant little girl she once was, the child who was on time for her meals, who kept her few things neat and tidy and her braids tied – she isn't that child any more, she hasn't been since the day Fredericks took her for a better life. Try being proud of her, and of Phryne; forget the past …"

"This has nothing to do with you," Margaret hissed when she finally recovered enough to realise Jack was telling her how to manage her family.

"Jack …" Phryne touched his arm.

"No, Phryne, I will not have her rubbish all you both have achieved just because it isn't her gilded view of life. I am incredibly proud of you and amazed that you will have this dour policeman as your partner, and that Janey and the children also seem to want me in their lives. This is what a family is, Lady Fisher, what we have, it's not always blood and lineage, sometimes it's just a group of people who love each other, unconditionally; people who can chastise as well as love, can guide and be guided – so, sorry, Lady Fisher, it has a lot to do with me because I love your daughter."

Most of the time Phryne didn't need or want Jack to stand up for her, but in this instance one of his long speeches was just what her mother needed to hear, and it was nice to hear him say such lovely things about Janey and herself. They were all things she knew but maybe her mother needed to hear them too.

Margaret stood opening and closing her mouth, not knowing how to respond to Jack.

"And I took them away from you," Phryne yelled, "because I don't trust you!"

The parlour door opened. "The Baron, Miss," Mr Butler hummed, wondering how much more of this interference his mistress could take without shooting one, or both, of her parents.

"What do you want?" Phryne glared at Henry as he cautiously entered the room.

"Sorry, dear girl," he smiled, "Jack. I've come to take your mother out of your way. I'm sure you have things to do after your journey." He held out his hand to his wife, "Margaret …"

"This has nothing to do with you," Margaret growled.

"She's my daughter too," he smiled, "but she's not a child to be disciplined and sent to her room without dinner. Come on, let's go back to the Windsor and have tea, or perhaps a walk in the Botanic Gardens, eh?"

"No. I shall go and see Janey," she tipped her nose in the air.

"No you won't. With four children she will have her hands full sorting out the household and settling them down. Perhaps we can all meet for lunch, in public, next week." He took her hand and slipped it into the crook of his elbow, "sorry for the intrusion, we'll see you soon," Henry smiled and gently, but firmly, escorted his wife from the house.

Phryne just stood staring.

"You ok?" Jack stroked her cheek.

"Shocked, is more what I am," she whispered. "Father …"

"May well be seeing the error of his ways, but, may I ask, was it all him – when you were a child? I mean did your mother try to stop him beating you, or locking you in a cupboard?" He guided her to the chaise to sit while she thought about it.

"Um, well, given he got away with it, I suppose she must have let him. You have seen she is a force to be reckoned with and I always said she must have nerves of steel to put up with him for so long. With father being the man he is, or was, maybe my recollection is somewhat coloured, maybe he wasn't always to blame. For the gambling and drinking money away, yes, reckless spending and speculations, but … I don't think I know anymore." She put her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, for what you said, even though …"

"I know," he smiled, "you don't need anyone to defend you."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The rest of the evening passed quietly, a relaxed dinner, a drink in the parlour with Dot and Hugh to discuss Dot's return to working with Miss Fisher and a long soak in the bath before Jack took her to the moon and back and she drifted off into deep sleep.

Jack did not. He lay there wondering what Lady Fisher was up to. Why was she hell bent on moulding Janey to her idea of how she should be living and raising the children? He even wondered if she had a suitor lined up for her back in England. A major worry was that she would try and take them back to England to be – in her mind – properly educated and schooled in the way of the nobility. He thought he might up the patrols round Janey's house, subtly of course, no need to raise any alarm.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Henry had spent the rest of the evening and part of the night arguing with his wife over her insistence that Janey and the children should return to England with them and begin their life anew. He didn't want her meting out the same treatment to their grandchildren she had to Phryne after Janey had gone missing. True, he admitted, he hadn't been a good father, hadn't provided for the family the way he should have, but he wasn't sure she had been a much better mother. She had allowed him, even encouraged him, to lock Phryne in the cupboard to break her spirit but it had had the opposite effect. She hadn't stopped him giving her a good thrashing when he got drunk and his dinner wasn't on the table.

"We both failed them, Margaret," he slumped sadly onto the couch, "but they have risen above it. Please stop trying to run their lives, let's just enjoy them, let's just be grandparents who have learnt from their mistakes."

As the argument became even more heated Margaret picked up a heavy ash tray and threw it at him. It narrowly missed his head. She would not back down and screamed at him.

"I want Janey to come with us! I am not leaving her where Phryne can involve her in her way of life. It's not proper, nor is working in a shop. Janey will come with us! How dare Phryne say she doesn't trust me!"

"No, she won't!" he stood between her and the door and turned the key. "You are going nowhere until you understand they are not children anymore. They are grown women that you can't bully into submission! Now, I am going to order dinner to be sent up here and we are staying in." He put the key in his inside jacket pocket while he rang down for dinner and a bottle of wine. He thought a dose of his nerve tonic in her wine would have her sleep late and give him the time to go and see his daughters and warn them of her plans.

Dinner was tense, Margaret ate little though she was hungry and drank a glass of wine that Henry managed to add the tonic to. He ordered two brandies to be sent up and they finally prepared for bed.

"You've over exerted yourself, dear," he soothed when she complained of being tired. "A good night's sleep is what you need."

She eyed him warily, wondering how she could get the key from his jacket but all too soon she was out cold; rather reminiscent of the time Jack had inadvertently drunk the tonic that fateful night. Henry knew she would sleep deeply and wake later than she usually did. He, however, planned to be up with the lark and round to see Janey, first, then Phryne, and apologise for their mother and assure them he would do all he could to get her home on an earlier sailing than originally planned.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Henry retrieved the key from his grooming kit and slipped out of the suite. Margaret was still asleep and he hoped she would be for some time. Even if she did wake and find him gone it wouldn't matter; he would have warned both daughters and they could be prepared.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Breakfast in the Sinclair household was a noisy meal. The children were good eaters and Mrs Hammond loved to set out assorted bowls of fruit, plates of pancakes and bowls of porridge on the table together with bacon and eggs, toast and fried tomatoes that everyone could help themselves to or, in the case of Arthur and Psyche, be helped to. There was always lots of chatter about what would be happening that day, who they would see, where they would go, and it was one of the rare times Robert was truly relaxed.

Nobody was dressed when there was a knock at the door.

"Oh lor'," Janey sighed, "I hope it's only family at this time of the day."

Mr Hammond slipped quietly out to the door and ushered in the Baron.

"Sorry, Mr Hammond," he grinned sheepishly, "I know it's early, but I needed to see Janey as soon as possible."

"Perhaps, sir, if you wouldn't mind waiting a moment …"

"No, not at all …"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Madam," Mr Hammond bent low and murmured in Janey's ear, "it's your father, the Baron."

"Oh," she frowned, "right, wonder what he wants so early in the day." She left the children to their breakfast and went to speak to her father, slightly worried about his visit. She still wasn't completely sure he had changed.

"Father?" she stood a little away from him, just over an arm's length.

"Ah, Janey," he shifted from foot to foot, "it's your mother."

"What about her?"

"She's determined to have you all come to England, see the boys go to Eton or Harrow or some such establishment …"

"No," Janey stated quite firmly, "we are staying here."

"Yes, good, just what I thought. I wanted to warn you, dear child, sorry, you're not a child anymore, Janey she's got a bee in her bonnet. Thinks Phryne is going to lose you again, that the children need disciplining …"

"I will do any disciplining that is required," Janey folded her arms, "and Psyche will continue to sit on Phryne's knee and eat biscuits off her plate …"

"Good, and let her dig in the carrot patch … Janey," he took a step forward, "Janey I know I was a lousy father, not sure she was much better as a mother, and she was hard on your sister after you went missing. I want to be a good grandfather, but you have to do the right thing for you and your family, and I think that is staying here, in Melbourne. You are a lot stronger because you were taken."

"Have you had breakfast?" she tipped her head and watched him.

"Er, what?"

"Have you had breakfast, only it's rather early for you to be up and about …"

"Well, er, no, I was going to after I spoke to you and Phryne," he cleared his throat.

"Come on in, there's plenty," she smiled and held out her hand, if he wanted to change then she would love to help him become a good grandfather.

"Grandfather has come to breakfast children," Mr Hammond pulled out a chair for him.

"Good morning, grandfather," William smiled, "where's grandmother?"

"Er, still asleep," Henry grinned, "I snuck out."

William giggled.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Henry knocked on the familiar dark green door and waited to be admitted. Janey had said she would give her sister a quick call to warn her he was on his way.

"She can be a bit grumpy first thing," she laughed.

"Ah," Mr Butler stood to the side, "Lord Fisher, your daughter is expecting you."

"Thank you, Mr Butler." He relinquished his hat and cane and turned towards the parlour.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Father," Phryne looked up from her book. "Janey rang … what's going on?"

"I wish I knew," he sat opposite her, "your mother is hell bent on Janey and the family moving to England and the boys going to Eton or …"

"Hm, Harrow?" she nodded, "and Janey wants to stay here?"

"Of course, and I think she should. Too much change, Phryne, for the children. It won't make any difference to William taking the title, and the nobility could always use some fresh blood," he raised his eyebrows. "Like I said to Janey, we weren't good parents, we weren't always kind, but you two have turned out pretty special, y'know. I'm going to see if I can take your mother home a bit earlier than planned; I don't want to, I'd like to spend more time with Janey and the children, and you of course, but I think if she stays it will all end in tears."

"What do you want?"

"Peace, and a chance to prove I can be a good grandfather. I will never be the father you deserve, it's too late for that, but …" he leant forward, "I'm sorry, Phryne, sorry for being the bastard I was, for doing all the awful things to you, locking you in a cupboard, beating you for no reason …"

"I don't remember mother trying to stop you," she hummed.

"No, neither do I," he agreed.

"Why the change?"

"I can see what a family should be, Janey's family, you and Jack … I didn't have that as a child … I didn't know how to be a parent, but Janey does, you do, I don't know how you do, but you do."

"I'm not a parent, father."

"You are, to Jane; yes, she's your ward, but you are a mother to her – maybe it's because you know how not to do it." He stood up, "I love you, Phryne, and I love Janey. I love your mother, but I won't see her hurt you. Neither of us have an awful lot of time left, I, for one, want to do as much as I can to make amends for the way I have treated you, so, no more looking for handouts, no more running away from the stupid things I do, I will do my utmost to be a good man."

"I …"

"… will reserve judgement," he laughed, "I know, and that's more than I deserve. Let's meet up for lunch one day …."

"How about a picnic?" Phryne stood to face him, "in the gardens, at least table manners won't be a problem."

"Sounds perfect," he stepped forward and kissed her cheek before she could back away, "see you soon. You let us know the time and the date and we'll be there."